Massive solar farm near Washford and Tropiquaria Zoo refused

Elgin Energy applied in December 2021 to build a new solar farm north of Tropiquaria Zoo on the A39, near the village of Washford, on land owned by the Wyndham Estate.

Somerset Council’s planning committee west (which makes decisions on major applications for the former Somerset West and Taunton area) delayed a decision on the plans in June, pushing things back by a month to allow for a more robust debate.

The committee roundly voted to refuse the plans when it met in Taunton on Tuesday afternoon (July 18), citing the damage to protected landscapes and the loss of high-quality agricultural land.

The proposed solar farm would have spanned several fields north of the Washford transmitting station, running from the B3190 Washford Hill to the Mineral Line active travel route, which connects Washford to the nearby town of Watchet.

Elgin Energy (which first consulted on the proposals back in May 2018) said the solar farm would provide around 25 million kWh of electricity per year – enough to provide power for 7,500 households.

A battery energy storage site will also be created near the site, allowing Elgin Energy to store surplus energy and sell it back to the National Grid at peak times.

Robert Dibble, the current tenant farmer at Kentsford Farm, told the committee on Tuesday (July 18) that building a solar farm on this land would be “a disaster just waiting to happen”.

He said: “I have lived and worked on the farm for 60 years. At the time when there is a national food crisis, it is vital that use of the most versatile land should continue – food security is just as important as energy security.

“The proposed solar installation shows total disregard for the running of the farm, splitting the holding into two. The adjacent fields just had their second gas leak in five years – this is a disaster just waiting to happen.

“Visitors have told me they come for the many footpaths, including the Mineral Line and the England Coast Path. Many have said they won’t choose to come back to the area if they have to look at industrial-looking panels.

“There has been a total and blatant contempt for me, my family and my livelihood.”

Gerard Hutting, a trustee with the Somerset branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) said that the solar farm would greatly damage views from both the national park and other protected areas.

He said: “Both Exmoor and the Quantock Hills AONB have strongly and repeatedly objected. It conflicts with national policy which protected designated areas and their setting.

“Forty years is a significant period of time. This land slopes down towards Washford and is clearly visible from the Mineral Line – it cannot be effectively screened.”

Penelope White, who lives in Watchet, added: “Not every project which provides green energy should automatically be approved.

“Solar panels take up a vast amount of space and their output fluctuates. Just one wind turbine in the North Sea has the capacity to power 16,000 homes.

“Elgin Energy wants to install 100 acres of solar panels in a valley – no matter how many trees are planted, it will still be visible.

“We do need green energy but we also need food – we should not have to trade one off against the other. Don’t rubber-stamp this outdated technology just because it ticks a green box.”

Ian Alridge, who sits on Williton Parish Council, said that building on this site would greatly degrade the agricultural land, preventing it from being used to its full potential after the solar farm was eventually dismantled.

He said: “Somerset is preparing to make a huge contribution towards energy generation at Hinkley Point C, and we grow crops that naturally take up CO2 as they grow. By producing food in our own area, we reduce the carbon footprint in its transport.

“There is a place for solar panels on the roofs of homes and commercial buildings – but not on good agricultural land.

“This will reduce good agricultural land to land only fit for grazing sheep. There’s already plenty of land fit for grazing sheep – it’s called Exmoor.”

Councillor Rosemary Woods (whose Watchet and Stogursey division includes the site) said the solar farm would put people off visiting Watchet – something the town did not need after the coast road to Blue Anchor was indefinitely closed earlier in the year.

She said: “This site is very visible from the A39 , the main tourist route into west Somerset. The proposal will destroy the ambience of the approach to Watchet.

“We are about to see new homes developed in Watchet and Williton – let’s see solar panels on the roofs.

“The majority of our tourists will need to come past this site since the B3191 was closed.

“The farmers have diversified into some tourism activity, including caravans and a camp-site. Our planning officers are serving them a double whammy – no rolling agricultural land, and no tourists.”

Councillor Gwilym Wren (who represents the rural Upper Tone division) agreed: “I struggle to find a period of 40 years as ‘temporary’. The local economy will suffer – clearly there are impacts to the occupiers of this land.”

Councillor Steven Pugsley (Dulverton & Exmoor) added: “It lies close to the national park boundaries and from several points within Exmoor it is very visible. While it is not in a designated area, it forms an important part of the immediate environs of the national park.”

After around two-and-a-half hours’ debate, the committee voted unanimously to refuse permission on the grounds of landscape harm and the loss of high-grade agricultural land.

Elgin Energy is not indicated whether it intends to appeal the decision.